Printing and PDF Generation
IntermediateConfigure FileMaker layouts for print output and generate PDFs programmatically -- covering page setup, Print Setup, Save as PDF, and multi-page report generation.
What you'll learn
- How Print Setup and page margins work with layout parts
- How to use Save Records as PDF in a script
- How to send generated PDFs via email
- How to insert generated PDFs into container fields
FileMaker can generate PDFs natively via Save Records as PDF script step (Save as PDF on macOS, or via the PDF printer on Windows). Professional output requires careful Print Setup configuration, layout parts sized to the page, and page break awareness. This lesson covers the complete workflow from layout design to PDF delivery.
Print Setup and layout page configuration
Print Setup (File -> Print Setup) defines paper size and orientation. Layout parts must fit within the printable area. Oversized parts cause unexpected page breaks. Check Preview mode to verify layout before automating.
// Best practices for print layout sizing: // US Letter: printable area ~= 7.5" wide x 10" tall (with 0.5" margins) // At 72 dpi: 540 x 720 points // Tip: switch to Layout mode -> View -> Rulers -> see layout width in inches // Ensure the total width of all layout content <= printable area width // Page Setup vs. Print Setup: // Page Setup: OS-level dialog (paper size, orientation) // Print Setup script step: saves paper/orientation settings into the script // -> use "Save settings to script" to capture the correct paper size // Always check Print Setup script step in layouts where paper size matters // (Reports, invoices, labels)
Sign in to track your progress and pick up where you left off.
Sign in to FM Dojo